If you're curious, and want some speakers with a very different approach, give the Mirage OMD-5's an audition. They are roughly in the same price group as the speakers mentioned but may offer you a very different listening experience.

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Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.

Once you've experienced it, you will find anything less unsatisfying. I have had the pleasure with my 5 watt per channel SET tube amp driving a pair of M22 like tweaked Michaura M55s and even more so driving a pair of Michaura M66s helped by a Velodyne 12" sub and sourced by a tube output Ah! Njoe Tjoeb. The 'wall' is a uniquely satisfying musical experience where the sound stage extends seemlessly from the centerpoint between the speakers, to far outside the vertical centerline of the drivers, to a virtual space behind the speakers and above them as well.

It is an awesome, pinacle experience of musical reproduction.

Other than that, I think you have it pretty right there Jay.

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Enjoy the Music. Trust your ears. Laugh at Folks Who Claim to Know it All.

Axiom should have my M3's back tomorrow. Here's my quandry. I have my eye on the Ascend 340's or possibly the M22's. But since I had the treble problem with the M3's I'm hesitant to try the M22's. I can't imagine that it will sound that different than the M3's? I've really driven Axiom crazy the last week with all my questions and emails!

I haven't heard the M22s, but from what's reported, I think that would be moving in the wrong direction if you don't like treble.

On the other hand, regarding the M22s: If you're looking for treble, you've come to the right place.

I like treble but the treble on the M3's was kind of harsh to my ears. Unless I was hearing exactly what was recorded? But every single cd I played on the M3's I heard sibilance. Even when I played some of the best recorded cds I own.